Indonesia is in the midst of its worst bootleg liquor crisis in years, with close to 100 people dead nationwide in recent weeks. Almost half of those deaths are believed to be linked to the bootleg booze empire headed by a West Java citizen named Syamsudin Simbolon, now known in the media as “Big Boss”.
According to reports, 45 people from Cicalengka District, Bandung Regency, died after drinking Simbolon’s brand of tainted home-brew, which contains methanol. Police say a secret basement lab in Simbolon’s luxurious home was able to produce hundreds of bottles of tainted liquor per day.
The West Java Provincial Police are still hunting down Simbolon, admitting that he has proved to be elusive ever since the recent bootleg booze deaths.
“The latest information from investigators is that he’s left Java island. We will continue to monitor his whereabouts,” said West Java Provincial Police Spokesperson Trunoyudo Wisno Andiko, as quoted by Detik today.
“He’s in the news, he’s being pursued, so it won’t be as easy to catch him as other people. Investigators managed to locate him, but he is continually on the move, he’s never staying in one location.”
That being said, the police have arrested Simbolon’s wife, Hamciak Manik, and two of his employees, Julianto Silalahi and Willy.
“They’re not being fully cooperative,” Trunoyudo said.
In light of the bootleg liquor crisis, the National Police said they may charge producers and sellers of tainted alcohol with murder using dangerous food and beverage products, a crime which is punishable by death.
